Hawk Hill & West Ridge Sunset Point via West Ridge Trail
5.2 mi · ▲ 638 ft · 2 hr 3 min
Hawk Hill & West Ridge Sunset Point via West Ridge Trail is a 5.2-mile out-and-back in South Mountain Reservation near Saint Cloud, NJ. The route passes West Ridge Sunset Point before reaching Hawk Hill at the turnaround, 2.6 miles in. It climbs 638 ft. It scores 3/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
Hawk Hill & West Ridge Sunset Point via West Ridge Trail
5.2 mi · ▲ 638 ft · 2 hr 3 min
Elevation 314–586 ft
Out & Back · South Mountain Reservation
Trailhead: Lenape Trail (Yellow) · 40.77320, -74.28715
Weather Sep 5: Overcast, high 78°F / low 65° · precip 1% · wind 8 mph · sunrise 6:29 AM · sunset 7:25 PM
Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start on Lenape Trail (Yellow), heading SE.
- 0.2 miContinue straight onto Mayapple Trail (Blue Dot), heading SW.
- 50 ftContinue straight onto Lenape Trail (Yellow), heading SW.
- 0.4 miContinue straight onto West Ridge Trail, heading S.
- 0.3 miContinue straight onto Lenape Trail (Yellow), heading SW.
- 50 ftContinue straight onto West Ridge Trail, heading S.
- 0.4 miPass West Ridge Sunset Point.
- 250 ftContinue straight onto Lenape Trail (Yellow), heading SW.
- 0.2 miBear left onto West Ridge Trail, heading SW.
- 0.7 miTurn left, heading S.
- 150 ftTurn right onto Elmdale Trail (Blue), heading S.
- 0.4 miReach Hawk Hill, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 0.4 miTurn left, heading N.
- 150 ftTurn right onto West Ridge Trail, heading N.
- 0.7 miBear right onto Lenape Trail (Yellow), heading NE.
- 0.2 miContinue straight onto West Ridge Trail, heading N.
- 0.4 miContinue straight onto Lenape Trail (Yellow), heading NE.
- 50 ftContinue straight onto West Ridge Trail, heading NE.
- 0.3 miContinue straight onto Lenape Trail (Yellow), heading N.
- 0.3 miBear right, heading N.
- 350 ftContinue straight onto Mayapple Trail (Blue Dot), heading N.
- 50 ftContinue straight onto Lenape Trail (Yellow), heading N.
- 0.1 miArrive back at the trailhead.
Each distance is the walk from the previous step. Tap a step for a map of its junction.
Trail surface
Weather
Sunset
The best sunset spot on this hike is 0.6 mi in (~16 min). Leave by 6:49 PM for the 7:25 PM sunset. Back at your car by 7:58 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
Good to know
- Parking lot at the trailhead
More from Lenape Trail (Yellow) Trailhead
- Lenape Bow & Mayapple Trail (Blue Dot) Loop 2.3 mi · ▲ 151 ft
- Billy Goat Way & Lenape (Yellow) 2.9 mi · ▲ 228 ft
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